OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — All-Americans Leslie Klein and Emily Turner were two of 50 players named to the sixth annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association on Tuesday.
The pair were two of 10 players from the Southeastern Conference named to the initial watch list. LSU is among 12 schools, including three SEC schools, that have multiple players on the list.
Klein, a 2004 and 2006 NFCA and Easton All-American, was a first-team All-SEC and All-Louisiana selection. The senior outfielder from Sunrise, Fla., is one of four LSU players in school history to earn multiple All-American honors.
She currently ranks in the top 10 in 10 separate LSU career offensive categories. Last season, she ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in nine separate categories, including batting average, RBIs and home runs.
Turner earned NFCA and Easton All-America honors last season, the first of her career, while also being named the Louisiana Pitcher of the Year. She became the 10th Tiger in school history to earn All-America honors.
The senior from Chula Vista, Calif., posted a 28-9 record in 2006 with a 0.93 earned run average and 260 strikeouts. She posted 13 wins over nationally ranked teams, including LSU’s first win over a No. 1-ranked team when she knocked off 2006 National Champion Arizona in the NCAA Super Regionals.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, considered the Heisman Trophy of women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
Former Tiger All-American Britni Sneed was one of 10 finalists for the award in 2002, while former All-American Kristin Schmidt was a top 10 finalist in 2003. Last season, Klein was one of 25 finalists for the honor.
The 2007 watch list is comprised of 50 players that represent 33 colleges and 10 different Conferences. A list of 25 finalists will be announced on April 4. A player does not have to be on the watch list to be considered for the top 25, but once the Top 25 is named the remaining finalists must be pared down from that list.
Just days before the start of postseason play, a list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 9th. The three finalists will be announced May 23rd. The winner of the 2006 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the start of the 2007 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
A replica of the award is on permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player’s academic institution.
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of amateur softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. As the National Governing Body, the ASA is responsible for identifying, selecting and training male and female athletes to compete in World, Pan American and Olympic competitions.
2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List:
(listed in alphabetical order)
*Monica Abbott, Tennessee, Senior, Pitcher, Salinas, Calif.
Candice Baker, Cal State Fullerton, Senior, Pitcher, Buena Park, Calif.
Callista Balko, Arizona, Junior, Catcher, Tucson, Ariz.
Brandice Balschmiter, Massachusetts, Sophomore, Pitcher, Newark, N.Y.
Lacey Bertucci, Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior, First Base, Folsom, La.
Catherine Bishop, Louisville, Senior, Pitcher, Adelaide, Australia
Katie Burkhart, Arizona State, Junior, Pitcher, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Courtney Bures, Mississippi State, Sophomore, Shortstop, Haymarket, Va.
*Tonya Callahan, Tennessee, Junior, First Base, Holden, Mo.
*Eileen Canney, Northwestern, Senior, Pitcher, Paradise, Calif.
*Gina Carbonatto, Pacific, Senior, Outfield, Lake Stevens, Wash.
Kasi Carroll, Georgia, Senior, Pitcher, Norris City, Iii.
*Ashley Charters, Washington, Junior, Shortstop, Newberg, Ore.
*Kaitlin Cochran, Arizona State, Sophomore, Outfield, Yorba Linda, Calif.
Maddy Coon, Stanford, Sophomore, Infield, Chappaqua, N.Y.
*Garland Cooper, Northwestern, Senior, First Base, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Ashley DeBuhr, Nebraska, Senior, Pitcher, Beatrice, Neb.
Melanie Denischuk, UMBC, Senior, Utility, Poway, Calif.
*Norrelle Dickson, Oklahoma, Senior, Utility, Orange, Calif.
Samantha Findlay, Michigan, Junior, First Base, Lockport, Ill.
*Erin Floros, San Diego State, Sophomore, Catcher, San Diego, Calif.
*Rachel Folden, Marshall, Junior, Utility, Baldwin Park, Calif.
*Kristie Fox, Arizona, Senior, Shortstop, San Diego, Calif.
Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech, Sophomore, First Base, Marietta, Ga.
Kassie Humphreys, Kansas, Senior, Pitcher, Glendale, Ariz.
*Leslie Klein, LSU, Senior, Outfield, Sunrise, Fla.
*Chelsi Lake, Baylor, Senior, Infield, Keller, Texas
*Dominique Lastrapes, Washington, Senior, Second Base, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Jodie Legaspi, UCLA, Senior, Shortstop, Garden Grove, Calif.
Mia Longfellow, Oregon State, Senior, Utility, Ramona, Calif.
*Caitlin Lowe, Arizona, Senior, Outfield, Tustin, Calif.
Robin Mackin, Fresno State, Sophomore, Pitcher, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
*Megan McAllister, Georgia, Senior, Infield, Carlsbad, Calif.
*Brianne McGowan, Oregon State, Senior, Pitcher, Reno, Nev.
*Kellie Middleton, Georgia, Senior, Outfield, Norcross, Ga.
*Cambria Miranda, Oregon State, Junior, Utility, Camarillo, Calif.
Whitney Mollica, Massachusetts, Sophomore, Third Base, Windham, N.H.
Taryne Mowatt, Arizona, Junior, Pitcher/Utility, Corona, Calif.
*Brette Reagan, Baylor, Sophomore, Infield, Magnolia, Texas
Jackie Rinehart, Stanford, Senior, Outfield, Reno, Nev.
*Brittany Rogers, Alabama, Sophomore, Outfield, Dacula, Ga.
*Lindsay Schutzler, Tennessee, Senior, Shortstop, Monterey, Calif.
*Anjelica Selden, UCLA, Junior, Pitcher, Vacaville, Calif.
*Amber Smith, Illinois State, Junior, Pitcher, Fairfield, Calif.
Alex Sutton, California, Senior, Outfield, Morgan Hill, Calif.
*Angela Tincher, Virginia Tech, Junior, Pitcher, Eagle Rock, Va.
*Emily Turner, LSU, Senior, Pitcher, Chula Vista, Calif.
Desiree Williams, Texas, Junior, Shortstop, Tucson, Ariz.
*Tammy Williams, Northwestern, Sophomore, Shortstop, Roscoe, Mo.
*Veronica Wootson, Florida State, Senior, Infield, Fontana, Calif.
* – 2006 NFCA All-Americans